Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal’s second largest shareholder, has called on the club
to bring back Thierry Henry in a permanent off-field role in support of
Arsène Wenger and the directors.

Wenger is close to agreeing a loan deal for Henry to return as a player next month but Usmanov believes that Arsenal should instead act to employ him in a similar role to Patrick Vieira’s position at Manchester City as a football development executive.

Intriguingly, it is understood that Usmanov has developed a friendship with Henry and his suggestion comes at a time of huge scrutiny on Wenger and the club’s management structure. “I don’t have any powers in terms of decisions at the club but there are a few players with whom I am in contact,” Usmanov told L’Equipe.

“My favourite is probably Thierry Henry. Thierry should be involved at the club but not as a player. He has another role to play, a more important role. Take the example of Patrick Vieira at Manchester City. He is also a symbol of Arsenal but he is helping another club. We have to avoid that with Thierry.

“The presence of a champion can radically change the soul of a team. That’s what Thierry showed last year when he came back to Arsenal but I think that comebacks only succeed once. That’s why I think the decision to come back belongs only to Thierry Henry.”

Wenger has previously spoken of how Henry could have a big role in football when he retires but Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer is contracted to the New York Red Bulls as a player. Despite being 35, he has also just enjoyed another productive season in Major League Soccer.

Although Usmanov believes that Wenger is still the right man to lead Arsenal, he thinks that the Frenchman lacks sufficient support.

Wenger’s training methods were also questioned this week as it emerged that Steve Bould, his assistant, has stopped taking sessions with the defence. There is a feeling that Wenger, who has always had total control of training, could delegate more readily but his overall position is under no threat. Although Wenger would be on the shortlist at both Real Madrid and Paris St Germain should they change managers next year, he still intends to honour a contract at Arsenal which expires in 2014.

As the fallout escalated yesterday from the humiliating defeat to Bradford City on Tuesday, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, who remains an honorary vice-president, also launched an extraordinary Twitter attack on the club’s directors.

Lady Bracewell-Smith’s decision to sell her shares to Stan Kroenke rather than Usmanov was the decisive moment in allowing the American billionaire to take control of Arsenal last year but she has now expressed her regret at the move. She also endorsed a Twitter message which described the club’s current position as a “pathetic business”.

Asked about Kroenke, Lady Bracewell-Smith wrote: “Disappointed would be an understatement. Shows he cares very little. Why he wanted to be part of AFC I do not know. If making money was the motivating factor, surely there are better ways. Football is a business of passion and SK has no passion for AFC.”

Club sources were privately dismissive last night of Lady Bracewell-Smith’s comments which were certainly in stark contrast to what she said when selling her 15.9 per cent stake in Arsenal to Kroenke in April 2011 for £116.24 million. “I am confident of Arsenal’s continued success both on and off the pitch and believe that Stan Kroenke will continue to develop the club in a manner true to its heritage for the players and the fans,” she said.

Usmanov was livid at Lady Bracewell-Smith’s decision to sell to Kroenke and actually made a counter-offer that would have valued the shares at an extra £12.36 million.

Had he succeeded with his late attempt to buy Lady Bracewell-Smith’s stake, he would have had more than 43 per cent of the shares against Kroenke’s total of almost 47 per cent.

The preferences of smaller shareholders would then have decided the takeover battle. Although Kroenke owns five other major sports teams in the United States, he spent around 30 days in London last year and attends virtually all the club’s monthly board meetings.